House Training a Puppy

House training, also called potty or toilet training, is one of the first things you'll teach a new puppy. It works best with a steady routine, lots of chances to get it right, and plenty of praise. Accidents are a normal part of the process.

When to Take Your Puppy Out

Take your puppy outside:

First thing in the morning, when they wake up
After every meal
After naps
After play, exercise or excitement, such as visitors arriving
Before you leave them and as soon as you come back
Last thing before bed

In between, young puppies need frequent trips out. The RSPCA suggests every 45 minutes to an hour, depending on age, and the San Francisco SPCA says puppies of 8 to 10 weeks usually need to go out at least once an hour. As a rough guide, a puppy can hold their bladder for about one hour for every month of age, so a three-month-old may need a trip out every three hours.

Signs Your Puppy Needs to Go

Watch for sniffing the floor, circling, fidgeting or restlessness, whining, or heading to the door. When you see these, take your puppy out straight away.

A Simple Routine

Go out with your puppy, on a leash or lead if your outdoor space isn't secure, to the same spot each time.
Stay calm and quiet and wait. You can use a short cue word such as "go potty" while they go, so they learn to link it with the action.
As soon as they finish, praise them warmly and give a small treat.
Spend a little time playing or walking afterward, so your puppy doesn't learn that going to the toilet means the fun ends.

Feeding at the same times every day makes toilet times easier to predict.

Supervise or Confine

Until your puppy is reliably house trained, watch them closely when they're loose indoors. When you can't watch them, use a small safe area such as a puppy pen, a gated room or a crate they have been taught to like. If they've been confined for a while, take them straight out when you return.

When Accidents Happen

Never punish your puppy for an accident, whether you find it later or catch them in the act. They won't link the punishment to the accident and may become scared of you or learn to hide when they need to go.
If you catch them starting, calmly interrupt by calling their name and take them outside. Praise them if they finish there.
Clean the spot thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner, or a solution of biological washing powder, to remove the smell so they are less likely to go there again.

How Long It Takes

Every puppy is different. Size, age and how consistent the routine is all make a difference. House training often takes 4 to 6 months, and some puppies take longer. Once your puppy has gone two or three weeks without accidents, you can slowly give them more of the house.

If a puppy that was doing well suddenly starts having accidents, or an adult dog starts toileting indoors, talk to your vet, as there may be a health reason.

Sources

Last reviewed October 15, 2026